Redundant Words and Phrases
There are certain words and phrases that one often sees in general correspondence that tend to make the language more complicated and cumbersome than necessary. Unnecessary words inserted into your writing can be very confusing to the reader, and sometimes outright misleading.
Accordingly, one should make a point to avoid the use of redundant words and phrases and eliminate them whenever possible.
The following list contains some of the more common redundant words and phrases, along with shorter and less cumbersome alternative wording.
| Instead of this… absolutely essential accounted for actual experience add the point that advise, inform along those lines am in receipt of are of the opinion of as a result of as of this date at your earliest convenience at this time, at the present time attached hereto attached please find came to the conclusion check into cancel out cognizant collect together compensate conceive consensus of opinion conception conclude, conclusion consequent results connect up deficiency demonstrate descend down despite the fact that determine discontinue due to the fact that early beginnings effect a change enclosed herein encounter endeavor equitable establish exemplify exhibits a tendency to facilitate few in number first and foremost for the purpose of for the reason that forward free of charge frequently give an indication of have at hand I am of the opinion in accordance with in advance of inasmuch as in compliance with in spite of the fact that in the amount of in the course of in the event that in the majority of cases in the matter of in the process of being in the near future in the neighborhood of in the normal course of events in the same way as described in this day and age in view of the fact that indicate initiate is/was found to be is suggestive of it has been brought to my attention it is apparent that join together kindly make a decision to make the acquaintance of mutual cooperation my personal opinion new innovation of a confidential nature on behalf of on the basis of on the grounds that on the part of owing to the fact that past experience permit me to take this opportunity pertaining to perform an analysis of perform an examination of preparatory to present a conclusion prior to prolong the duration of provided that reached an agreement send an answer the modifications contained herein subsequent to subsequently supplement take under advisement the undersigned terminate the committee made the decision the question as to whether to be in agreement with to have a preference for to secure under no circumstances undertake a study of until such time as utilize, utilization with a view to with regard to within the realm of possibility whereas whereby whether or not you will find attached | Use this… essential caused by experience add that say, tell, let us know like, similar to have think that, believe that because today soon, next week, specific date now, at present attached attached is concluded check cancel aware collect pay think consensus idea end results connect lack show descend although find stop due to, because beginnings change enclosed meet try fair set up show tends to help few first for because send free often indicate have I think according to before because as requested, as specified although for during if, in case most, usually about being soon about normally as described nowadays because show begin, start is/was suggests I have learned it seems join please decide meet cooperation my opinion new confidential for by since by because, since experience I want to about analyze examine before conclude before prolong if agreed reply these changes after, since later add consider I, me end, stop the committee decided whether agree prefer to get never study until use to about possible but which whether attached is, here is |
The above list is not exhaustive; it is the list that I have compiled to-date, and the best that I could come up with when I wrote this page. But I’m sure you get the point. No doubt there are many more of these, and I urge you to be on the lookout for them.
The obvious lessons that one can draw from the above is: the simpler the better, and don’t use three words when one will do the job.
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